Adapter for wall-type outlet boxes



p 2 1951 c. J. BINDEL 2,568,942

ADAPTER FOR WALL-TYPE OUTLET BOXES Filed Feb. 23, 1949 \\\\\I 11 FIG .3

Charles J. fiina ef L f 9 BY Offer/1 ez Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER FOR, WALL-TYPE OUTLET BOXES Charles J. Bindel, Akron, Ohio Application February 23, 1949, Serial No. 77,933

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an adaptor for walltype outlet boxes.

The conventional electrical outlet box is difficult to secure into a wall opening because often there is no firm foundation to which the box may be attached. In attempting to fasten the box to the plaster wall immediately adjacent the wall opening, in which opening the box is to be received, the plaster often breaks or gives way during installation, thus making it difficult and sometimes impossible to satisfactorily install the box. Broken plaster around the opening may require repairs to obviate a resultant unsightly appearance.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes which overcomes the difiiculties mentioned.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character described which is adapted to be quickly and easily installed in a wall opening with a minimum of skill.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation showing the adaptor of this invention in operative position in a wall opening, an outlet box being shown in chain-dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation showing the adaptor.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, but with parts broken away and showing the adaptor ready for positioning into the opening of a wall.

The adaptor shown generally at l comprises oppositely disposed gripping mean 2 and 3, each carried by spaced support legs 4, the legs of opposed gripping means being pivotally interconnected as by rivets 5. The pivotal connection of the legs 4 make it possible to move the gripping means 2 and 3 toward each other as shown in Figure 4 prior to installation in an opening 6 in a wall I.

The gripping means 2 and 3 each comprise a stationary gripping bar or finger 8 carried by the respective spaced legs 4, and a movable gripping bar or finger 9 slidably mounted on the bar It) by means of a pair of guide feet ll, bent to engage a portion of the bar It! on the underside thereof as shown. The finger 9 is moved on the bar Ill by means of a pair of threaded screws l2, the tapered head l3 of the screw being held in a correspondingcountersunk portion (not shown) in the finger 8. Movement of the screw by means of a screw driver in clockwise or counterclockwise directions cause the finger 9 to move correspondingly toward or away from the finger 8.

The adaptor is installed in the opening 6 of the wall I by first moving the fingers 8 and 9 away from each other to permit ready reception of the wall 1 therebetween. The adaptor is then collapsed about the pivots 5 as necessary (see Figure l) to permit clearance of the fingers 9 into the opening 6. When the fingers 8 and 9 are positioned as shown in Figure 4, force is applied at the pivots 5 in a direction tending to extend the logs into alignment in the plane including the wall. Clockwise movement of the screws [2 moves the pairs of fingers 8 and 9 into clamping engagement with opposite portions of the wall 1. This clamping condition of gripping means 2 and 3, as shown in Figure 3, prevents relative movement of the legs 4 and removal of the adaptor with respect to opening 6.

The stationary finger 8 i provided with a pair of threaded openings 14 as means for anchoring or securing a conventional outlet box 15, shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 1, in the opening 6 of the wall I. The box IE may be of the type provided with anchor tabs l6 having apertures therein for reception of screws, adapted to be threaded into the op nings M to anchor the box in position. In this manner, both the adaptor and the box may be mounted in a wall opening without cracking or breaking the plaster of the wall 1.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes comprising a pair of adjustable wall gripping means each carried by a support means pivotally interconnected to permit movement of the gripping means toward each other, the gripping means comprising a stationary wall engaging finger and a second wall engaging finger movable into and out of cooperative wall gripping engagement with said stationary finger by means of a screw memher in threaded contact with the movable finger and held by the stationary finger against axial movement when the fingers are in wall gripping position, the support means comprising a pair of leg members parallel to each other and forming a frame structure with said gripping means for receiving said outlet box, and anchor means carried by said stationary finger for receiving said outlet box in anchored position therewith.

2. An adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes comprising a pair of adjustable wall gripping means each carried by a support means, between the end portions of said pair of support means a pivotal interconnection to permit movement of the gripping means toward each other, and anchor means on said gripping means for receiving an outlet box.

3. An adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes comprising a pair of adjustable wall gripping means each carried by a support means, and between the end portions of said pair of support means a pivotal interconnection to permit movement of the gripping means toward each other, said gripping means including a relatively non-movable wall-engaging member having an angularly disposed extension thereof for slidably receiving another relatively movable wall engaging member, and means for eifectuating relative movement of said movable wall engaging member toward said relatively non-movable wall engaging member, said means for effectuating relative movement between said wall engaging members including a screw having it shaft received through an aperture in the relatively non-movable wall engaging member and being engageable within a threaded aperture in said relatively movable wall engageable member.

4. An adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes, comprising a frame including oppositely disposed end members each having a pair of laterally spaced leg portions, said leg portions at the respective side of the frame being pivotally interconnected at the free ends thereof to permit movement of the members toward each other, adjustable wall gripping means carried by each said member, said gripping means each including a relatively non-movable wall-engaging member having an angularly disposed extension thereof for slidably receiving another relatively movable wall-engaging member, and means for effectuating relative movement of said movable wall-engaging member toward said relatively non-movable wall-engaging member, said means for effectuating relative movement between said wall-engaging members including a screw having its shaft received through an aperture in the relatively non-movable wall-engaging member and being engageable within a threaded aperture in said relatively movable wall-engaging member, said relatively non-movable wall-engaging member having attaching means thereon for securing a said wall-type outlet box thereto.

5. An adaptor for wall-type outlet boxes comprising a pair of adjustable wall gripping means each carried by a support means, between the end portions of said pair of support means a pivotal interconnection to permit movement of the gripping means toward each other, and anchor means on said gripping means for receiving an outlet box, said gripping means including a relatively non-movable Wall engaging member having an angularly disposed extension thereof for slidably receiving another relatively movable wall engaging member.

CHARLES J. BINDEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,665 Behm Sept. 16, 1930 1,933,053 Glattly Oct. 31, 1933 2,044,650 Thompson June 16, 1936 2,374,993 Haynes May 1, 1945 

